Disclaimer: Takahashi-sama I am not. A lowly fanfiction authoress I am. Talk like Yoda I do. Seen Star Wars too many times I have. Own Yugioh and Star Wars I do not.
Peoples, this IS an AtemuAnzu fic! Do not worry! You will see how by the end of this chapter, at the very latest!
Dusk Dancing
Zagava - Steps Masked
Atemu hurried into the dawn dancing hall, tugging at his cloth mask. Just in time.
He found a place in the circle of Eythereauians, panting, as King Ahkenemkhanen stepped forward into the circle's center.
The hall was swept silent in an instant, the king's very presence a command to, in Katsuya's words, 'Shut the hell up and listen if you damn well value your life.'
"Fargon a hugsned qéi fasryo!" The crowd joined hands, their circle growing in size as last-minute stragglers ran into the hall, ready for the ritual.
"Naf ga tomier definjo!"
Atemu mumbled, "Yadda yadda edgi ha no hiem," along with the rest of the crowd, and continued on, "Wara thouji kiplef ni hara-yo greaf..." When the prayer ended, silence filled the hall as everyone closed their eyes tightly, waiting for the gods' light to cascade over them.
A zing, like an earthly lightning bolt, spread through the giant circle as the citizens clung to one another, all falling to their knees under the weight of the gods' light, which struck with enough force to bowl over an elephant.
Atemu gasped, feeling the blow on his back, and something creep up his neck. Not now! I can't throw up now! He felt the person next to him grasp his hand tighter, and squeezed thankfully on their fingers. Everyone understood the pain of receiving such a message from the gods, even if it was worth it afterwards. Only residents of the Eythereau palace could take part in such a ritual, being the god-gifted among the large Eythereau society. There were spellcasters and fighters, some with great physical skill and some with superior intelligence, illusionists, prophets, and dancers. Dancing was the highest godly gift an Eythereauian could possible receive at his or her birth, and to have a god-gifted dancer in your clan meant to be honored by all of Eythereau.
The ritual zagava dance began, an offering of purity to the gods. Atemu rose, crossing his legs to the steady beat and following the flow of the ritual, still dizzy from the shock of being hit by the gods' light. Was it just him, or had it hit him particularly hard that year...?
A final drumbeat ended the ritual dance and the masked circle broke apart. Atemu looked up to the person next to him.
"Thank you, from when the light hit..."
"No problem."
It was a female figure, about his own height. Dressed in all ocean-hued blue, as he was, bangles and bracelets glittering from her wrists and ankles. Her face was shrouded by a thin gray cloth, her voice light and pretty.
'Water princess...' Atemu smiled inwardly. A bit of chestnut hair peaked out from the girl's cloak hood, and on her feet were the silvery heels the Eythereau dancers wore. Shizuka.
"Would you like to dance with me, 'Water Princess?'"
A soft giggle came from behind her mask. "Water princess... you sure know how to charm a girl."
He extended his arm for her to take, and they headed out to the dusk dancing hall. A small group of couples was already dancing to the snappy notes of a traditional zagava, fast-paced yet easily mastered.
"Shall we?" he asked, switching his hand to hers. She nodded, and they began to dance.
Atemu admired how Shizuka could set amazing beauty to such a staccato-dominated dance, and his senses bloomed as he brought her into a tight spin, turning around and snapping back just as she twirled back into his left arm, her back falling over it gracefully as she leaned trustingly into a dip, he stepping in back of her and setting both hands firmly on her waist, gently lifting her up. She turned to face him, each staring into the other's masks, trying to find eyes beneath cloth.
She snapped her wrist away from his in time with the music, he grinning as their very souls lifted their minds into new dimensions, each rising to meet the other's call. Atemu's head spun, he reminded that love in Eythereau was destined through dusk dancing. He felt so alive, so whole, dancing now. He hadn't remembered ever feeling this way around Shizuka, like pure, raw emotion had thrown him up into the sky. He was touching the heavens, and he didn't ever want to fall back down.
Neither did she. Wonder stunned the coffee-haired girl's spirit as the dance's sharp, thick chords rang through her head. Her feet felt light and airy as soft snow beneath her as she allowed him to lead the way, falling into a perfect, harmonious step behind him. His arm around her waist was strong, confident, and gentle, sending chills up her side as he flung her into another brilliant spin, this time clasping their hands above their heads as they flew about together, existing in a world of pastel dreams and floating breaths of silky air.
They continued in this manner for dance after dance, each panting at the and of a fifth.
"Would you like to sit down?" he asked, breathless from not only the physical exertion of dancing, but from the effects this dance in particular had had on his body.
"Yes, let's."
He took her hand, leading her over to a balcony just outside the hall. They sat on one of the benches, silent for a few minutes as each caught their breath.
"That... that was amazing..."
"I've never danced like that in my life."
Silence fell over the couple again, until he stood and asked, "Dance again?"
She responded by dashing off to the dusky hall. "Catch me to dance with me!"
'Two can play at that game.'
He ran after her, following the trail of her floating blue gown through many dancing couples.
Closer... closer...
He leapt forward, catching her around the waist with a steady arm. She gasped softly, then relaxed into his grasp, the two beginning to flow to the smooth music sounding through the hall.
Atemu grinned inwardly, loving the sensation of his mind leaving him as they moved as one, their two bodies together creating a beautiful, fluid bond, blending gently into quiet yet immensely powerful music.
'Father was right. I just needed some time to get to know Shizuka. This is amazing... I knew she was a terrific dancer, but I can't remember her being THIS good...'
A few hours more passed as they danced, becoming more in-tune to the music's melody and to each other with every second. Atemu's feet felt programmed to move perfectly under him, his arms to move at the right moments, his hands to set themselves gently on her waist as they swayed naturally, thoroughly wrapped up in the exhilarating flow of the zagava.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed slightly upwards, staring into the depths of his mask.
"Mmph... Who are you?"
Atemu shook his head. He'd toy with his fiancée a bit longer. "Guess."
"What a mean guy you are."
He chuckled. "Thank you."
"That wasn't supposed to be a compliment, you know."
"Thanks anyway."
"You're an odd person."
"Proud of it."
A small giggle came from beneath her mask. "At least you're a good dancer."
His eyes softened beneath his own mask, and he reached up a hand, sliding it under her veil to stroke her cheek.
"Only for a deserving partner."
She yawned, again laughing. He moved his hand to the back of her head, tilting it forward to rest on his shoulder as they continued to dance, the hall darkening as the bloody Eythereau sun set outside the palace, sending wondrous multicolored light beams to mingle among the dancers. He found himself yawning as well.
The tune changed to a stronger one, and she pulled off his shoulder, falling into a chilly shimmy-sway to the trills of woodwind players. He moved at a slightly slower pace, eventually locking onto her speed and positioning his hands on her arms. His eyes were shining, though she couldn't see them, and his spirit felt it would explode from feelings.
"You do this one well."
"As compared to what?" he asked lightly.
"Most of the buffoons who try to do this."
"Gee, thanks."
"It's a good thing!"
Their conversation ended on that note, the music melting back away to a slow, winding, easy dance. Atemu blushed deeply as they drew closer to one another, his breath hitching in his throat.
"You don't do slow stuff often, do you?"
"Actually, I do. I've just never liked it... until now." She still doesn't realize it's me...
"You should. You're tense, but it's natural for you."
"I have a dancing gift."
"I figured. So do I."
"That much is obvious. You're stunning."
"Thanks..."
The music died down a few minutes later, and Atemu found himself exhausted.
"Would you like to quit?"
"Mmph... no... one more, please?"
He complied, and they finished with a second slow, heated dance. When it was finished, he led her down to one of the palace courtyards. Night had completely fallen, and stars decorated a rich indigo sea of heavenly daydreams above the literal Eythereau sea leading off into a seemingly endless ocean.
"It's so beautiful," she stated as they sat on a bench.
"Yes... but it's harder to see when you're masked."
"Am I supposed to be wary of any implication here?"
"... You might be."
His words hung in the air for a second, sharp, stinging, like a solitary bullet striking through silent air. Then he dove forward, flipping up the gray cloth that covered her eyes, as she did the same for his, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
He felt her sigh as their lips met, he running his fingers through her silky hair as his lips ran over hers in much the same manner, for nearly two minutes.
She pulled away, panting slightly, and rested her head on his shoulder. His whole body objected to this. He wanted more, but shortly they would have to report back to the dawning hall for the midnight offering, to complete the ritual.
"Mmph... Can we do this again?"
She giggled. "Maybe... right now."
He smiled in pleasure as they plunged into another kiss. He hadn't let go of her hair, and he massaged her head gently through fistfulls of her short, amber tresses-
Short?
He broke apart from her, searching by the poor light of one of Eythereau's moons for her eyes. He met them, and gasped, realizing what he'd done.
She was a water princess, and she was, to him, the most beautiful girl in all of Eythereau.
But she wasn't Shizuka.
See? I told you it was an AtemuAnzu fic. Three guesses who she is, peoples.
Thanks, Ksaturn, and glad ya like it so far!
I believe that the answer to your question is in the chapter, QueenofHearts4u, specifically the last line, lol. I'm glad you like it so much! Review on dude! (if I may semi-quote you)
Not exactly, BradyBunch4527. I wanted the reader to get it that Shizuka was rubbing Atemu a bit in the wrong way, not that she was being clingy, necessarily. She loves him in a way he doesn't love her. Dance in Eythereau is a direct reflection of the feelings between the people who dance together, so poor Atemu is in for some trouble. I'm glad you, as well, like it so far!
I actually designed it to be a bit hard to follow, DreamCatcher16, sorry if I lost you somewhere in there though. I'm glad you think it's interesting, though!
Peace-ouT.